ESPN to Put 'Bonds on Bonds' On Hiatus After 2 More Episodes

By RICHARD SANDOMIR

Published: May 25, 2006

ESPN has shelved ''Bonds on Bonds,'' the documentary series about Barry Bonds, well before its expected run through the All-Star Game break.

The network will run what will most likely be the last episodes of the series tonight and on Memorial Day.

ESPN said in a statement that it had put the series on ''hiatus'' because of ''Bonds's health and home run pace.'' He has hit six home runs. His most recent was Saturday and tied him with Babe Ruth's career total of 714.

Rob Tobias, an ESPN spokesman, said the decision was not based on ratings. But the series is averaging a slim 0.5 rating (455,000 households), while the programming it replaced at 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday had averaged a 0.8, or 753,000 households. ''Bonds on Bonds'' posted its highest rating last week, with a 0.6, before he hit his 714th.

Mike Tollin, the producer of the series, said by telephone from New Mexico that with 41 home runs separating Bonds from Hank Aaron's career record of 755, ''I didn't expect to keep going.'' But, he added, ''If he were hitting home runs like Albert Pujols, we'd be leaving it open-ended.''

He said that Bonds ''was weary'' and did not resist the decision to stop production.

ESPN's decision to make the series raised the issue of whether, through Tollin's company, Bonds was being paid for access that he otherwise would not have given.

Tollin said he might produce another episode if Bonds were added ceremoniously to the National League All-Star team -- the game is in Pittsburgh, where Bonds played for seven seasons -- and another at the end of the season.